26 suspects arrested in raids on alleged home gambling operations in Westminster

WESTMINSTER, Calif. (FOX 11) - More than two dozen suspects were arrested in a SWAT raid early Monday in Westminster following a two-month investigation into an alleged illegal gambling ring, police said.

The Westminster Police Department joined by West County and Buena Park SWAT officers conducted the raid just after midnight at a home in the 10000 block of Treebark Circle, and at a second home on nearby Premier Avenue.

The heavily armed SWAT officers were seen on video using a flash bang grenade to enter one of the homes.

A total of 26 people were arrested in connection to an illegal gambling investigation, police said.

A neighbor described seeing arcade-style gaming machines in the home.

"I just heard loud bangs and then when I walked out cops told me to go back into the house," said neighbor Hin Nguyen. "To have this happening next door is a little scary."

Police say "activity in and out of the home" is what initially clues them into suspected criminal activity, as well as neighbors calling the authorities about unusual activity.

"A lot of times it's the neighbors that call in and report the activity that leads us to the investigation, starts the investigation for us," said Commander Cord Vandergrift with the Westminster Police Department. "That's why it's always so important that anything you see that you think is not right, call the police department and let us know."

The names of the suspects or charges they face were not immediately released.

In 2018, there was an illegal gambling raid just down the street from the home where 14 people were taken into custody at Cafe Picasso Vietnamese restaurant, located in the 15600 block of Brookhurst Street.